OMCA Plans To Impart Industry-Relevant Skills Among Life Sciences Graduates

Satya Gopal Kalluri Dec 07, 2018

Today, life sciences graduates see a bright future for themselves. Technological developments have had a profound impact on the kind of skill sets required by any industry. A right guidance is what these young individuals need. The desire to be mentored by experts and trained in a professional environment before stepping out to explore more is something that they always want.

Life science graduates have often struggled to find an alternative career option where they are able to capitalize on the academic knowledge they have accrued. This might be because of lack of proper skillsets or knowledge about alternative career options. These students are often in dire need of professional mentors who could help them furrow a career that is not only remunerative but would also help achieve their goals.

The booming healthcare sector is one that offers varied career options. This sector is expected to grow three-fold to Rs. 8.6 trillion ($ 133.44 billion) by 2022, thus opening up various career options for life sciences graduates in India.

Shift to newer verticals

A series of innovations and advancements in the healthcare sector have not only improved patient care, but have also generated new career opportunities for life science students. The healthcare sector offers many exciting career opportunities. One such option for the students of medical sciences/life sciences is Medical Coding, arguably the fastest-growing segment within the healthcare industry.

Medical coding is the process of converting healthcare diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into universally-accepted codes of industry standards. Medical coders are professionals who translate notes from the doctors and other medical professionals into a uniform set of codes. They help ensure that the codes are applied accurately which includes abstracting the information from documentation and assigning the appropriate codes which further help in the billing process.

Growing demand for medical coders

The Healthcare Outsourcing firms/Business Process Management (BPM) firms have been witnessing an exponential growth and have engendered a great demand for medical coders in India. With the implementation of ICD-9 (The International Classification of Diseases) in 2015, the medical coding sector grew tremendously seeing a peak rise in demand for medical coders since then. Additionally, physicians, hospitals and the insurance companies have started actively adopting EHRs (Electronic Health Records) which is one of the other key factors driving the growth of the medical coding industry and the demand for medical coders.

What does a medical coder need?

For a student from the life sciences background such as those from Bio-chemistry, Bio-technology, Zoology, Pharmacology, Physiotherapy and Nursing, it is easier to make a career in medical coding since they have already a better understanding of the subject. There is no particular requirement when it comes to medical coders, and a graduate with a basic knowledge of anatomy or who has a passion to learn new medical terminologies could try their hand at medical coding as a profession.

A medical coder does need a few qualities which can help them in their job; one such trait being high ethical standards because of the confidential and sensitive nature of patient data they work with. They must additionally have a keen eye for details as any minute error in the code could amplify into an error of a much higher magnitude.

Certificate course from OMCA (Omega Medical Coding Academy)

A medical coder requires specialized training and certification which turns medical coders into valued professionals in healthcare. Omega Medical Coding Academy (OMCA) was founded in 2014 with the aim to leverage Omega's expertise and to offer a certificate course in medical coding to life sciences graduates who are willing to make a career in the field of medical coding.

OMCA offers a 45-day certification course in medical coding. The course is conducted by certified CPC (Certified Professional Coder) instructors who have rich industry knowledge which aids in bridging the knowledge-gap and providing the students with a strong foundation. The training comprises of extensive hands-on practice in coding. The on-the-job training process allows them to get a clarity of the job before they actually start working in the outsourcing industry. OMCA aims to incorporate required skill sets for a medical coder by providing them real-time industry scenarios.

After the training process, the candidates go on to the graduation process called minimum skill verification. If the candidate gets the requisite scores, they would be eligible for the interview process and on clearing that, they are absorbed into Omega Healthcare and other medical coding companies.

Omega believes in on-ground training

While the industry has always debated ways to get job-ready talents at colleges, Omega Healthcare believes in making efforts to train students and keep them abreast of the needs of the industry. Most often than not life science graduates find it difficult to gain a foothold in the industry. OMCA steps in here and offers better employment and alternative career options for such graduates in the metros and non-metros by providing training at their centers in Bengaluru, Chennai and Trichy.

Since inception, OMCA has trained over 4,000 people, of which 2,000 of them have been recruited into Omega. OMCA aims to leverage Omega Healthcare Management Services’ (OHMS) vast experience and benefit both students and industry in general. This business-academia collaboration delivers high-caliber professional medical coders to cater to the expanding industry.